15 Things To Know BEFORE Moving to Raleigh {2018 Guide}

Living in Raleigh, NC

Find out why 70+ people are Moving to Raleigh Daily

For anyone moving to Raleigh, NC or considering the move, you'll want to be sure to read this article first! Check out the affordability of homes for sale in Raleigh.

One thing most people don't realize about Raleigh is just how big live music is. When you close down the main streets in the city, for a live concert, you know it's important:

Here are 15 things you should expect to love about your move to Raleigh!

Community - A Great Reason to Move to Raleigh

One of the best parts about Raleigh is that it's a city with a small town feel. Raleigh is a city where people know your face and that's all they need to know. It's often you will run into someone you met, recognize their face and embrace in a warm greeting without even knowing one another's names. There is a feeling of comfortability and familiarity in Raleigh that comes from that small town feel. You may not recognize it at first, give it six months though and you'll know exactly what I'm talking about.

If you're anything like me you enjoy the opportunity to meet new people while running into the ones you met previously. Raleigh is a city, and it's a small town, at the same time. It's large enough so that you're always meeting new people and small enough so that you're constantly running into the ones you know!

The People You Meet in Raleigh

Part of what makes the community so great in Raleigh are the people who call the city home. Living in Raleigh you will encounter some of the nicest, most welcoming people in the world. The happiness of the people who live in Raleigh is a product of everything Raleigh has to offer including the number one place for jobs, awesome weather, and an affordability, unlike most other cities. Apex, NC, a suburb of Raleigh, was most recently ranked as the #1 in the United States by Money Magazine.

If you're moving to Raleigh from the northern states (NY, MA, CT, NJ are popular states to move from) you're sure to notice right away just how welcoming the people in Raleigh are. After I made the move from Boston I realized right away that the personality of the city is contagious. You'll find yourself a happier person because you're surrounded by people who are happy. If you have a dog, there are dog parks everywhere in Raleigh!

Raleigh is the Best Place for Jobs

If you're moving to Raleigh you will have a much easier time finding a job than you will anywhere else. Glassdoor ranked the city of Raleigh, NC as the #1 Best City for Jobs in 2015!

With more than 24,000 job openings there is sure to be one for you, and the median base salary to median home value is some of the best in the country! Additionally, Raleigh has a job satisfaction rating of 3.3 Raleigh, NC is on the top end when it comes to being happy in the work-place.

The is a huge part of what makes Raleigh such a great place for jobs. A lot of executives will move to Raleigh to begin working in RTP with so many larger businesses that have their office headquarters there. Outside of RTP you will find companies like MetLife who just moved to Cary, NC and set up their technology office with six-figure salaries. Go to Downtown Raleigh and you will see other companies like RedHat and Citrix who have set their headquarters there.

So far Apex has been ranked the best place to live and Raleigh is ranked the best city for jobs. So what else will you love about moving to Raleigh?

The Food in Raleigh is Top-Notch

One of the South's top 10 tastiest towns as ranked by Southern Living Magazine, foodies have a special place in their heart for the cuisine in Raleigh. If you are relocating to Raleigh you'll want to be sure you head downtown for a night at (I recommend the Pork Belly Soup) or (vegetarian), they will hit taste buds you didn't even know you had!

With over 1,200 Restaurants in the Raleigh area, you will always find something new to try. What separates Raleigh from a lot of the restaurants from other places around the world is the service, it's more than just fine dining, it's an experience you'll have to try for yourself! Searching for food outside of Downtown Raleigh? Maybe in the Cary or Apex area? Check out the 17 best Raleigh area restaurants here.

Raleigh is a great place for food, and its neighbor in of its own!

While the food in Raleigh is some of the best in the country, the craft beer scene just might be the best in the nation!

Crafting Great Beer is an Art in Raleigh

With 366 beers on tap at the Raleigh Beer Garden, Raleigh, NC just passed Munich, Germany with the largest beer garden in the world! Let me repeat that. The city of Raleigh has the largest beer garden in the world. It's more than just a city with a few great breweries, Raleigh is home to some of the best craft beer in the world. With local breweries like Raleigh Brewing Co., Trophy, Crank Arm, Big Boss, Lonerider and many others.

Affordability of Homes for Sale in Raleigh

In Raleigh, the homes for sale are some of the most affordable in the nation. Whether you're searching for a house in Downtown Raleigh, North Raleigh, or in a suburb of Raleigh you'll find the homes are priced fairly for the quality of life and economy. Raleigh Real Estate offers great value.

SEARCH HOMES FOR SALE BY CITY

Whether you're shopping for homes in Cary, Apex, Holly Springs or in north Raleigh you'll have easy access to the city, at an affordable price. A lot of Cary is people who have moved from the northeast. Those people who moved to Raleigh from New York and New England sure are happy about the weather.

Weather in Raleigh is a Reason to Move!

The weather in Raleigh, in my opinion, is perfect and a great reason to relocate. We celebrate all four seasons (yes, it snows here!) and we are only a couple hours from the Mountains if you enjoy skiing or snowboarding. Here is a great image to give you an idea of what to expect from month to month weather trends for Raleigh.

Education is Some of Best in Nation

Raleigh is ranked as the by Forbes, and it's neighbor . With universities like North Carolina State University, Duke University, and the University of North Carolina all within a short distance of Raleigh it only makes sense that the area places a high priority on quality of education.

GreatSchools.Org is a great resource if you want to look up the ratings of schools in the Raleigh area. In 2010 GreatSchools ranked Raleigh as the . The accolades continue to pile up for Raleigh!

If you're planning to move to Raleigh and want to find homes for sale by school district, we created a webpage to help you! It will help you find a great home that is in a school district you like!

Art in Raleigh

The art galleries in Raleigh are some of the best attractions in the city. For awhile Art was the main attraction in Raleigh, and it's inspired arts in other forms including music, craft beer, fine dining, even inspiring some of the custom new construction homes in Raleigh. Once again, the folks at GoDowntownRaleigh have put together an awesome for art lovers wanting to explore the cities museums and galleries.

The is one of the main attractions for Art lovers in Raleigh, NC. It's history dates back to when the North Carolina General Assembly used $1 million dollars in 1947 to become the first state in the nation to use public funds to buy art. You can search through the variety of collections on the NCMA website, though nothing you'll see online will do justice in comparison to an in-person visit to the North Carolina Museum of Art!

For those with a great appreciation of art, it's just one more reason to relocate to Raleigh!

Raleigh NC is THE Spot for Live Music!

If you love music, Raleigh is a great place to relocate. There are several live concerts a week going on in Raleigh whether your band is playing at the RedHat or Walnut Creek Amphitheater.

For the not so often days and nights when there isn't a concert, there is always live music somewhere in Raleigh.

Nightlife

If you're planning on relocating to the Raleigh area, you are sure to find some great night time entertainment. Raleigh has put a focus on its entertainment, especially in the past decade where they have revamped Fayetteville District, Moore Square, Glenwood South and other areas around the city's core. You can take a look at an interactive guide to downtown Raleigh nightlife .

A product of the music and craft beer, Raleigh attracts a lot of live music, fine dining, and bar hoppers downtown. There is something for everyone.

Sports

The Carolina Hurricanes are the only professional sports team in Raleigh. NC State, UNC-Chapel Hill, and Duke have some awesome fan bases and tailgating.

College sports are big in Raleigh, particularly college basketball. Anyone who follows college sports knows about the tobacco road rivalry between The Duke Blue Devils and The University of North Carolina Tar Heels. Two of the top college basketball teams year in and year out both located just minutes from the city of Raleigh. If you love college sports it's a great reason to relocate to the Raleigh area.

Additionally, there are top Triple-A baseball teams like the Durham Bulls and the Holly Springs Salamanders. If you enjoy going to the ball game, you'll fall in love with the local baseball teams.

Beach

How far is Raleigh NC from the beach? A short two-hour drive and your feet are in the sand.

Wrightsville Beach, Carolina Beach, and The Outer Banks are some of the favorite spots of local Raleighites to visit when the weather is nice. It makes for a great day trip or weekend getaway for those beach lovers looking for an additional reason to relocate.

Not only are you two hours from the beach in Raleigh, you're two hours from some great mountains if you enjoy skiing and snowboarding!

Mountains

Skiing and Snowboarding is something you will find a short couple of hours from the city of Raleigh. Sugar, Ski Beech, Winterplace, and Snowshoe are all great mountains to go hit the slopes!

Golf

If you love golf, you're going to love Raleigh, NC! A short hour drive south is Pinehurst, North Carolina a city known as the "Home of Golf in the U.S." The North Carolina Golf Panel ranks the top 100 courses found in NC and the Pinehurst area has three of the top five golf courses on the list.

It's hard to go for a 10-minute drive in Pinehurst without passing at least one golf course. The density of golf courses in the area is the reason for the nickname "The Sandhills."

The number of golf course communities in the Raleigh area is huge. It's not hard to understand why the people in Raleigh love their golf with courses like Lonnie Poole to the right. Golf is a large part of North Carolina's history and the year round nice weather keeps the courses open longer.

People travel from all over the world to visit the golf courses in the Raleigh and Pinehurst area. Golf is a great reason to relocate to the Raleigh area, you'll always have an opportunity to play no matter the season!

Living in Raleigh, NC

If you're thinking of moving to the Raleigh, NC area, brace yourself. You are going to really enjoy living in Raleigh!

When I made the move from Boston with my family, I remember reading about Raleigh as one of the best places to live in America, and it lives up to the hype! Whether you're moving to Raleigh with or without a job you will want to make sure you visit the area first. Team up with a local Realtor to ask for neighborhood information and join the 'Raleigh Life' group on Facebook!

Final Thoughts on Relocating to Raleigh:

As someone who moved to Raleigh myself, I wanted to share some of my experiences since moving here. Moving from Boston to Raleigh is something that was a big shift for me, going from a large city to one that is still building it's identity is a lot of fun. The Triangle area offers a lot of great options for buyers coming from more expensive places. We also have helped people who are .

The opportunity to make an impact in Raleigh, to help the city continue to be great is something I wanted. Raleigh Real Estate is another reason for making the move to the area, it's much more affordable and gives you the financial security and peace of mind that is difficult to find in other places.

Hopefully, you enjoyed reading the 15 Reasons to move to Raleigh! If so, share it with friends!

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Hi there! I'm Ryan Fitzgerald, a REALTOR in Raleigh-Durham, NC and the owner of Raleigh Realty. Chances are you and I share a similar passion, Real Estate! I also have a passion for technology, sports, and people. Would love to hear from you. Drop me a note in the comments section below and feel free to share this article socially!

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7 Responses to "15 Things To Know BEFORE Moving to Raleigh {2018 Guide}"

Wanda colon wrote:
I am moving to Raleigh, it seems like a great place!

Posted on Tuesday, October 13th, 2015 at 9:55pm.

Ryan Fitzgerald wrote:
Thank you, Wanda!

A lot of people living in Raleigh have relocated from other places around the country. The city is truly something special, and to be honest it isn't for everyone.

You have to appreciate that big city/small town vibe that comes with it. Every day I meet new people here in Raleigh and it isn't long before I run into them again!

If I could give anyone moving to Raleigh one recommendation it would be... become friends with everyone you can, you will be happy you did and you're likely going to see them again!!

Posted on Friday, September 2nd, 2016 at 8:15pm.

Lucy wrote:
I am moving to Raleigh and I am really excited - thanks for the information its super helpful!

Posted on Tuesday, November 8th, 2016 at 2:55pm.

wrote:
I thank you for this post. Very informative post about moving to raleigh.

Posted on Monday, May 15th, 2017 at 9:44pm.

wrote:
Excellent blog on moving to raleigh. Very informative post,very good write up.

Posted on Wednesday, June 14th, 2017 at 12:48am.

Nevalle wrote:
While I have enjoyed reading your blog about Raleigh North Carolina. I know it's difficult for me to move into a neighborhood where snakes and other creatures roam freely. I want to move there but, not sure.

Posted on Saturday, June 16th, 2018 at 2:07pm.

miak K wrote:
Thank you! It's very useful info! My husband and I am going to visit Raleigh this month to figure out it's a good city for us.